12 Questions
How might we define the purpose of music according to the text?
Expression in sound; the expression of thought and feeling in an aesthetic form
What kind of experience can listening to music provide?
An emotional experience or an intellectual exercise
What should the ear and mind be ready for after mastering the gift of listening to a Haydn symphony?
Admit Mozart, then absorb Beethoven, then Brahms
In early times, to which entity did organised music belong?
The church
Who took the best composers and talented performers into their service in later times?
Noble families
What was the role of amateur musicians in later times?
Found in music a satisfying means of self-expression
Who was the Russian composer known for establishing a new national school and submerging Western-European influences?
Glinka
Which composer was the driving force in establishing the group known as 'The Mogutschaya Kuchka'?
Balakirev
Who was the first Russian composer to achieve widespread international recognition?
Tchaikovsky
What is the main difference between Operetta and Musical Comedy?
Both blend music and the spoken word, but Operetta leans more towards singing, while Musical Comedy emphasizes the spoken word.
Name two popular Musicals that emphasize unity and theatrical realism.
Oklahoma and My Fair Lady
In what country has Band Music, played by military bands, brass bands, and pipe bands, held its place in public favor?
Great Britain
Study Notes
The Purpose of Music
- Music is often defined as "expression in sound" or "the expression of thought and feeling in an aesthetic form".
- Music has the power to awaken spiritual sensations and emotions in us.
The Evolution of Music
- Historically, music belonged to the church, then became the property of the privileged few.
- With the advancement of professional musicians, amateur musicians found music as a means of self-expression.
- Music evolved to embrace forms and styles more accessible to the masses.
Opera and Operetta
- Operas were initially performed privately, with the first "commercial" operatic venture taking place in the 17th century.
- Opera houses opened to the general public in many cities, leading to the development of operetta and musical comedy.
- The line between operetta and musical comedy is narrow, with examples including The Gipsy Baron, The Merry Widow, and Oklahoma.
National Music and Composers
- In the 19th century, composers sought to emancipate their national music from foreign influences.
- Russia was one of the first countries to raise the banner, with Glinka establishing a new national school based on Russian folk songs and church music.
- Other Russian composers included Dargomizhsky, Balakirev, Borodin, Cui, Moussorgsky, and Rimsky-Korsakov.
- Tchaikovsky was the first Russian composer to gain international recognition.
Instrumental Music
- Instrumental music broke away from sacred worship and into secular channels.
- Instrumental players provided music for public functions, developing into small orchestras and eventually symphony orchestras.
- Later, orchestras of the cafe type assumed more artistic responsibility, catering to public tastes.
Band Music
- Band Music, including military bands, brass bands, and pipe bands, has maintained popularity, especially in Great Britain.
- American popular music initially clung to European forms and conventions before being influenced by Afro-American music.
Explore the various definitions and considerations surrounding the purpose of music, beyond simply providing pleasure. Discover how music serves as an expression of thought, feeling, and aesthetics, and its power to evoke sensations and emotions within us.
Make Your Own Quizzes and Flashcards
Convert your notes into interactive study material.
Get started for free
